CurrrlPunks is committed to highlighting BIPOC, Queer, Trans & other marginalized musicians in Alternative genres. Here are some artists you might enjoy, with a small description and links to their sites. Feel free to suggest any additions, as I’ll be constantly adding to this list. Happy listening!
Essentials
- Bam Bam – iconic sludgy grunge from in Seattle in 1983, led by Tina Bell, the godmother of grunge
- Death – quick paced proto-punk, funk band formed in Detroit in 1971
- Fishbone – rock fusion of ska, punk, & funk metal with humor and political commentary; formed in 1979
- Living Colour – blazing hardcore rock, punk, & funk metal with compelling lyrics; formed in 1984
- Pure Hell– dynamic proto punk band formed in 1974 from Philadelphia
- Sista Grrrl- incredible collective formed in 1997 by Tamar-kali Brown, Honeychild Coleman, Simi (Stone) Sernaker and Maya Sokora
- X-Ray Spex – led by the brilliant Poly Styrene, London based punk rock & new wave band formed in 1974
PUNK
- Action/Adventure – Feel good heavy pop-punk
- Bob Vylan -collision of grime, punk rock, & hip hop with charging lyrics of politics & social issues faced within the Black community
- Big Joanie – an essential Black feminist post-punk reminiscent of Riot Grrrl
- BLKVapor– all Black Queer punk and noise rock
- Danny Denial – Black queer led artist of raw goth-pop punk
- Fea – Chicana Punk band with kinetic anthems
- Gully Boys – Harmonious grunge power pop, garage rock
- Hijas de la Muerte – 3 piece Indian and Hispanic unapologetic Grunge Punk
- Ho99o9 – (pronounced Horror) punk rap band with an anarchic death rap sound
- Magnolia Park – Supercharged punk rock, genre bending
- Meet Me @ the Altar – Pop punk all girl band with an energetic sound
- The Muslims – Queer, Black & Brown band, anti-fascist, and balances humor with real political rage
- Pinkshift – Pop punk band that fuses elements of grunge and alt rock
- Pleasure Venom – Fierce femme punk rock with electrifying vocals
- Red Arkade – Heavy punk rock band from Queens with a catchy & gritty sound
- RumKicks – high energy South Korean punk band
- Skatune Network – Lively ska covers of songs with punk, emo, and rock edge
- Special Interest – Dance punk balancing electronic beats & hardcore riffs
- The 1865 – impactful blues-punk rock, self described as “Bad Brains meets Foo Fighters in a black woman’s hair salon for a cup of tea”
- The Specials – Ska rock band infused with punk that smoothly delivers a resounding message
- TV on the Radio – mix of post-punk electronic fun from Brooklyn
- We Don’t Ride Llamas – Alt Afro-Punk band tapping into social commentary of marginalized peoples
- Whole Wheat Bread– self described as ‘dirty south punk rock’ from Florida
HARDCORE
- Ache – hardcore punk band, lyrics cover difficult topics like depression
- Dizeaze – hardcore band out of Chicago
- FEVER 333 – Hardcore punk, Rap Metal inspired by the Black Panther Party
- Lake Lanier -Black alternative, woman fronted hardcore punk from NYC
- MAAFA – afro-progressive hardcore led by Afro-Brazilian artist, Flora Lucini – uses rhythms & instruments from the African Diaspora
- Minority Threat – all Black hardcore band from the Midwest, with a strong political message
- Shoot da 5 – diverse, NYC based ‘Hardcore Con Sazon’ – hip hop & metal elements delivering themes about injustice and culture
- Winter Wolf– band from the NY/NJ area, described as Harlem Rhythm punk – varying sounds of soul, grit, and hardcore
METAL
- Adrienne – Metalcore band from MA
- Baby Metal– Japanese Kawaii Metal, a mix of J-pop idol and heavy metal
- Ballista – Metal/Hardcore that takes on subjects like racism & Trans issues
- Black Pantera – African-Brazilian band, name inspired by the Black Panthers
- Bloodywood – Folk metal band from India; uses cultural instruments
- Buggin – harcore band from Chicago with a playful punk sound
- Cinnamon Babe – Fiery fun Nu-Metal led by Stormi Maya
- Cursed Affliction – alternative nu-metal with chilling electronic elements
- Divide and Dissolve – Instrumental doom metal; political titles conveying anti-colonial and dismantling white supremacy
- Knife Wound -heavy metal band from Atlanta
- Nova Twins – fierce alt duo that combine nu-metal, rap, and bass heavy rock
- Nini Music – folk metal and instrumentalist from Taiwan, Asian folk legends through a fusion of rock elements
- Shepherd’s Reign– Mighty Polynesian heavy metal band with cultural heritage & dynamic storytelling
- Skindred – Heavy metal fused with Reggae rock and hip hop
- Soul Glo – hardcore punk with high energy and captivating hooks
- Tetrarch – Metal, hard rock from Atlanta, with dark vibes and heavy riffage
- Voice of Baceprot (VOB) – female metal trio from Indonesia, heavy rock with a global message
- Zaeer (زئير)– heavy metal rock band, plays original Arabic songs
- Zulu -blend of hardcore punk and powerviolence with samples & passages from Black musicians & artists
ALTERNATIVE
- ALT BLK ERA – Sister duo, genre-bending with haunting, fierce sounds
- Breezy Supreme – unapologetic Black alternative punk artist from DC area
- Blvck Hippie – Black fronted, sad boy indie rock and post-punk rock, inspired by VHS music
- Black Polish – dance worthy mood Indie rock
- Connie Constance – Indie pop rock; self dubbed a fairy bitch genre
- Élishia Sharie – Electrifying neo alt artist fusing elements of 80’s classic and 90’s alt rock
- Gemini Aaliyah -chilling goth alt bangers and gloomy fairy tales
- Glass Spells– San Diego duo of dreamy synth pop rock, nostalgic retro sounds with lyrics of Mexican Heritage
- Grizz– fuses Goth electronic with hip hop & dark retro sounds, danceable beats (Goth approved)
- Guitar Gabby & The TxLips Band– rock band led by women & gender expansive professionals
- Iniko– non-binary artist that blends R&B, rock, & reggae, creates a spellbinding experience
- Hemlocke Springs– synth lofi and indie pop, feels like a dream, happy adventures
- LustSickPuppy-genreless but elements of Techno punk, breakcore, nu-metal and hip hop
- Mint Green – Emo pop alternative band with melodious lyrics
- Rico Nasty – “sugar trap” artist that blends harcore rap & rock with a punk aesthetic, our Black alternative Queen
- Santigold– new wave & electronic styles, transcendental storytelling
- Shamir – dance electro pop & lofi indie blends, multiple genres
- Sneaks – post-punk, indie pop, spaced out hip hop
- Lava La Rue -neo-psychedelia, soul, & indie pop artist fusion
- Tres Leches – experimental blends of art-punk, pop,cumbia, and rock
- Twin Tribes – dark synth, post- punk band reminiscent of 80’s Goth rock
- Urban Heat– dark 80s energy, contagious electric dance vibes
- Zahariah – timeless sounds of rock, pop, and hip hop
ALT HIP HOP/SOUL
- Angel J. Nelson– grunge, pop, trap & R&B infused creations
- Bree Runway– unconventional, trailblazing sensation of pop & R&B/Soul
- Chief Cleopatra – Texas based rock infused with soul
- Cookiee Kawaii – upbeat jersey club & R&B sound to dance to
- Dizzy Fae – electric rap & R&B
- Dreamer Isioma – a wonderful balance of various genres like Afrobeats, R&B & funk
- EARTHGANG- playful combination of southern rap, funk, & soul from Atlanta
- Princess Nokai – experimental trip hop styles with rap rock elements
- Talia Goddess– unconventional innovator of songs & words, from Brooklyn
- Tank and the Bangas -lively, magical medley of funk, soul, hip hop, spoken word, & new jazz from New Orleans
- THOT SQUAD– a.k.a. BLVCK BUNNIE, bold & twerkable anthems
- Tierra Whack- experimental rap with a uniquely creative & artistic take on the genre